Poe seeks additional P5-B Marawi rehabilitation fund

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe on Sunday, October 22, proposed to increase the budget for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City by P5 billion.

Poe, a member of the Senate special committee on Marawi rehabilitation, said the additional funding may be included in the 2018 budget’s Unprogrammed Appropriations.

The proposed budget for next year is currently being deliberated in Congress.

“The Marawi rehabilitation plan should be future-proof and include infrastructure for security against elements who would attempt to besiege the city anew,” Poe said in a statement.

Last Tuesday, October 17, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Marawi City had already been “liberated” from local terrorists linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).

Efforts continue, however, to flush out remaining terrorists from the heavily damaged city. Around 10 hostages are believed to be still in the battle zone.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already allotted P5 billion for rehabilitation in 2017 and P10 billion in 2018.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the amount for 2019 will be determined based on the remaining needs of Marawi City.

Duterte earlier pledged that P20 billion would be set aside to rebuild the city. – Rappler.com